Automatic lubricator



T. H. BOYD AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR Original Filed lAug. 24, 1936 INVENTOR. Mamas /76 oya/ BY l ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 19, 194e nutren stares AUTOMATIC Lnitrca'ron Thomas H. Boyd, Fayetteville', Ark., assigner of one-fourth tol?. C. Harra, and one-fourth to Laut Campbell, both of l Springfield, Mo.

applicati@ august 24, iseasenal no. 97,561 Renewed February 3, 1940 9 claims. (c1. ias-fies) This invention relates to automatic lubricators for internal combustion engines, and particularly that type of mechanism designed to lubricatethe upper cylinder walls, upper portion of the pistons, and all adjoining parts of the engine by the ern-l ployment of lvapors evolved in the crank case or valve case of the engine.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of anv automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines having valve structure for rcontrolling the passage of oil vapors fro-rn Within one portion of the internal combustion engine to another interior portion thereof, which valve structure is operated through the medium of heat generated by the engine within its exhaust manifold.

Another important vobject of lthis invention is the provision of an'automatic lubricator, having as a part thereof, a pipe line which extends from a suitable chamber within the engine wherein oil vapors are evolved to the intake manifold so that such vapors might be injected into the upper portions of the cylinders with the charge of combustible fuel, said pipe line having interposed therein, valve means operable by the change in temperature of the exhaust manifold, to the end that variation in the speed of the engine will relatively alter the position Aof the valve and, therefore. the amount of vapor passing through the pipeline.

A yet further aim of this invention is the provision of unique valve structure for automatic lubricators, which has thermostatic means therein for actuating the valve member so that it may open and close the pipe line of the lubricator as the temperature withinthe housing for the thermostat changes as a result of operating the engine at high or low speeds.

A still further object of the invention is to ,40 provide a simple, strong and durable valve for automatic lubricators, that is efficient in operation; wholly automatic in action; controlled by the temperature changev within the exhaust manifold; has a number of lunique inte1're lated parts; is easy to apply; and will serve its purpose without attention or adjustment after installation.

A large number of minor objects will appear 50 during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and wherein:

Figure l. is a side elevation of a conventional 55 type internal combustion engine, with the automatic lubricator, made in accordance with thisy nti'on. combined therewith. ig.` 2V is an enlarged, detailed, vertical, sectional view through the valve structure `of the lubricator.

Eig. 3 -is a vertical sectiontaken along line HI--HI of Fig, l.

l is al cross section, taken' along line )3T-V of Fig. 2.

5 is a similar sectional View, taken along 10 line V-V Vof Fig. 2, and,

6 .is a sectional view, taken along line lil-Vl of Fig. 2.

An automatic lubricator embodying this in vention utilizes evolved oil vapors which nor-,15 mally are vexhausted through some suitable vent or breather pipe, and these vapors, with their lubricating qualities, are injected into the exp' sive mixture jttprior to its entrance into the combustion chambers of the engine cylinders. 20

The speed with which the vapors are so introduced, andv therefore, the volume of lubricant that reaches thi-:combustion chambers, is varied in direct proportion to the speed of the engine. At slow speeds the vexhaust manifold yis com- 25 paratively cool and, therefore, the hereinafter described thermostatic valve is not opened as wide as when the heat of the exhaust manifold has acted upon the thermostat to completely open the valve when the engine is running at a 30 high rate of speed.V l

The automatic lubricator may be combined with any conventional type engine E, having a crank case 8, intake manifold lil, and exhaust manifold' i2, with which the parts of the lubri- 35 cater are directly associated. It is known that the intake manifold Iii is in direct communication with the cylinders formed in engine E and that any vapor injected into manifold lil will reach the cylinders and contact the walls thereof. 40 A pipe line, comprising pipes i4 and It, interconnects crank case 8 and exhaust manifold Ill, as exemplified by Fig. 1. Manifestly, the exact points of connection might be varied so long as the concepts are followed with respect to conducting evolved vapors from the point of formation to a place where'they will be directed into the cylinders above the pistons. The unique valve structure i8 is interposed in pipe line consisting of pipes i4 and It, and this valve strucn ture comprises an outer sleeve 20, having an intake port 22 and an outlet port v24 formed therein. These ports 22'and 2l! are in coi-rmiuni-v cation with the ends of pipes I4 and I6 respectively and internally threaded. bosses ,26 and 28 u provide means for interconnecting outer sleeve 2G and the said pipes.

It is preferred that intake and outlet ports 22 and 24 be diametrically opposed so as to be in communication with diametrically opposed openings 3# formed through the Wall of inner sleeve Inner sleeve 32 is in telescoping relation with outer sleeve 20 and may be rotated about its axis so as to oiset openings 30 with respect to intake and outlet ports when it is desired to prevent the iioiv of vapors through pipes I4 and I6. This rotation is limited by a pin 34, carried by head 3G of inner sleeve 32, and projecting into an arcuate notch 33 formed in outer sleeve 2li. Shoulders ill bear against pin 34 to describe the ends of its path of travel and head 36 is knurled so that it is not necessary to employ special tools to turn inner sleeve 32. The under side of head 35 is provided with an annular groove 42, Which receives the upper annular end of outer sleeve 20.

Inner and outer sleeve are in frictional engagement, but in order to increase this frictional engagement and provide a lock that prevents accidentel removal of inner sleeve 32 from outer sleeve Eil, there is presented a crescent-shaped spring finger 44. This member 44 floats in an annular groove 4G formed inwardly from the cuter face of inner sleeve 32, and the ends of membe';1 fill bear against the inner face of outer sleeve 2S. Obviously, there is a difference in .radius between member t4 and inner face of outer sleeve 2li that permits the relationship just described, and illustrated in Fig. 5.

A valve member dit is reciprooably carried within inner sie-ev., This member i8 has a groove 5D formed intermediate the ends thereof and moves to and from communica-,tion with openings 3B as the temperature within heus is varied. Valve member is urged downwardly by spring 54 that is positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the lower end of member 4S projects into housing 52 and against suitable thennostat strips 58 and 58. These strips supported by a block 69 that is carried within housing and the area of support is intermediate the ends of the thermostat strips. Strips 56 arch as illustrated. in dotted lines of 2 when the temperature rises Within housing E2 and strip 58 remains straight. The reason for the use of block 5G becomes obvious when it is understood that very low temperatures tend to arch lower strip 5G so that the ends thereof will move do'mnvardly.

ach of strips 56 and 5t is provided with holes for the reception of guide pins 32 so that disple er it of the strips is precluded.

The stat housing E2 has an open side that is closed by the 'wa-ll of exhaust manifold l?? when in operative position. An opening 5M formed in another` side of housing 52 insures circulation within the housing when the open side thereof has been closed by the Wall of the exhaust mani fold. In some instances, the form of manifold l2 requires that an adapter he employed, but such device is not here illus rated because of the Widely varying requirements caused by dii'erent models of engines. As the temperature rises in housing 52, thermostat strips will arch open the valve by moving valve member 53 up to the position shown in dotted lines of 2. and as the temperature lowers, the valve member will be dropped to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a housing; a sleeve on the housing provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a reciprocable valve member. having a groove formed therein, -within the sleeve and movable to and from a position Where the groove is in communication with said inlet port and the outlet port; and a thermostat within the housing for actuating the valve member to the aforesaid position as the temperature of the engine rises appreciably due to heat generated by its operation.

2. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprisin a housing; a sleeve on the housing provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a reciprocable valve member, having a groove formed therein, Within the sleeve and movable to and from a position Where the groove is in communication ivith said inlet port and the outlet port; a. thermostat within the housing for actuating the valve member to the aforesaid position as the temperature of the engine rises appreciably due to heat generated by its operation; and a spring to yieldably urge the valve member from the aforesaid position as the temperature of the engine lowers.

3. In an automatic iubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a thermostat; an outer sleeve provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner sleeve in telescoping relation with the outer sleeve, having openings through the side wall thereof; and a valve member reciprocably carried within the inner sleeve having a groove formed therein and movable by the thermostat to and from a position Where the groove is in communication with said openings as the temperature of the engine rises and falls respectively during operation.

4. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a thermostat; an outer sleeve provided with an an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner sleeve in telescoping relation with the outer sleeve, having openings through the side wall thereof; and a valve member reciprocably carried Within the inner sleeve having a groove formed therein and movable by the thermostat to and from a position Where the groove is in communication with said openings, said openings in the inner sleeve being in communication with the inlet and outlet ports When the inner and outer sleeves are in the normal position, said thermostat adapted to move the valve member as the temperature of the engine rises and falls during operation of and after the engine is started.

5. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a thermostat; and outer sleeve provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; en inner sleeve in telescoping relation with the outer sleeve, having openings through the side wall thereof; and a valve member reciprocably carried within the inner sleeve having a groove formed therein and movable by the thermostat to and from a position where the groove is in communication with said openings, said openings in the inner sleeve beingT in communication with the inlet and outlet ports when the inner and outer sleeves are in the normal position, said inner sleeve being rotatable about its axis to close said inlet port and the outlet port.

6. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a thermostat; an outer sleeve provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner sleeve in telescoping relation with the outer sleeve, having openings through the side Wall thereof; and a valve member reciprocably carried within the inner sleeve having a groove formed therein and movable by the thermostat `to and from a position Where the groove isin communication with said openings, said openings in the inner sleeve being in communication with the inlet and out let ports when the inner and outer sleeves are in the normal position, saidv inner sleeve being rotatable about its axis to close said inlet port and the outlet port, said inner land outer sleeves having yieldable friction means therebetweenl for precluding accidental relativemovement.

7. In an automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprising a thermostat; an outerv sleeve provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; and inner sleeve in telescoping relation with the outer sleeve, having openings through the side Wal] thereof; and a valve member reciprocably carried Within the inner sleeve having a groove formed therein and movable by the thermostat to and from a position ywhere the groove is in communication with said openings, said openings in the inner sleeve being in communication with the inlet and outlet ports when the inner and outer sleeves are in the normal position, said inner sleeve being rotatable about its axis to close said inlet port and the outlet port,`said sleeves having a movement limiting means therebetween.

8. In an. automatic lubricator for internal combustionv engines, a valve structure comprising a housing; a sleeve Von the housing provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a reciprocable valve member, having a groove formed therein, Within the sleeve and movable to and from a position Where thevgroove is in communication with said rinlet port and the outlet port; and a thermostat Within the housing for actuating the valve member to the aforesaid position, said thermostat being -a plurality of superimposed strips, said housing having a block. therein for supporting the strips intermediate the ends thereof.

9. In an' automatic lubricator for internal combustion engines, a valve structure comprisu ing a housing; a sleeve on the housing provided with an inlet'port and an outlet port; a `recip- V rocable valve membenhaving a groove formed therein, Within the sleeve and movable to and from a position Where the groove is in communication with said inlet port and the exhaust port;

and a thermostat Within the housing for actu- 

